If I have around 80 miles or higher on the trip odometer then I sometimes have a slow start, it's possible that the weather/temperature could have some involvement in this as well. I recently had trouble starting my 2010 R1, it took me a second try to get it to start. I always wait for that 'suction' sound or whatever that occurs after you put the key in and turn it to ON. Usually takes like 3 seconds. (I was told by a friend who delivered my bike when I bought it brand new to do this)

I seem to have rather quick starts, like 1-3 seconds when the Tanks is full of gas or I have less than 80 miles on my trip odometer (I reset after each fill-up, since I ran out of gas once!)

I am not sure about what the issue is?

Starting should be quick right? Like 1 -3 seconds?

If I ride the bike to and from work everyday and it's 5 miles, of which I can get most of it done on the highway at high speed am I doing harm to the bike? (I started on a ninja 250 and was told that I should ride 15 minutes at least once a week and at least 15 minutes if bringing it out of storage and then putting it back in)

Is the battery getting charged? Do I need to ride it longer?

Is there some sort of idiot's guide to the R1 as every bike is different and the carbed ninja 250 is totally a world apart from an R1.

I'm taking the slow starts as a sign that I am probably doing something wrong riding the bike, but I don't know...

any advice?

Thanks in advance

__________________

I decided that living in fear of dying on a motorcycle isn't living, now at least if I die I had fun beforehand!

i have an '10 and have been wondering the same thing. Some times it will start right up, others, it will take a second. Maybe it has to do with the battery and the cold cranking amps?

Mine is a 2010 also, I notice that it seems to happen when the temperature outside is around 50 or lower... not sure if it's weather related or not... but it may be and it may just be the fuel injection is correcting the air/fuel mix or something... I am not sure

I have done some researching and I guess it's not good to hold the starter on for 5 seconds... try for 2-3 seconds max, wait a few seconds and try again...

I'm probably going to install a quick connect for a battery tender and start plugging it in to the tender all the time though.

__________________

I decided that living in fear of dying on a motorcycle isn't living, now at least if I die I had fun beforehand!

Most likely the sh!t ethanol in our fuels, try turning key on then off a few times to cycle the fuel injection and fuelpump. I use Startron in my fuel and my '12 always fires right up, no extended cranking or trying to start, it just starts.

so you ride the bike for like five minutes ten times a week? poor motorcycle.

Well if I am busy and it rains on the weekend then yeah, I do a lot of short rides.. I try to ride around longer at least once a week though if I am not riding long... heard it's better on the spark plugs for the 'ninja 250'... not sure it matters on an R1... much larger displacement....

dunno.. I'm not an expert on that subject.. not even really an amateur or better lol....

__________________

I decided that living in fear of dying on a motorcycle isn't living, now at least if I die I had fun beforehand!

so you ride the bike for like five minutes ten times a week? poor motorcycle.

What up Roco

I agree, anything less than 5 miles is considered "severe service", although I think it prolly takes him a little more than 5 minutes to go 5 miles.

Every time you start an engine, water condenses inside the crankcase. If you drive/ride less than 5 miles, you are NOT getting the oil temperature up to normal, optimal operating temperature. If you don't get the oil temp, and the combustion chamber temps up to the optimal temperature, you don't burn the water out of your crankcase, and you don't burn the carbon deposits out of the combustion chamber. If you do this everyday, you will have what is known as "sludge" inside of your engine, although, I would think quite a few bikes will get wrecked before the sludge becomes a problem.

Try to take the long way to work if work is less than 5 miles from home, or get a beater car, and just ride once in a while.

__________________
Bogie is the man, and I should learn not to mess with him

I agree, anything less than 5 miles is considered "severe service", although I think it prolly takes him a little more than 5 minutes to go 5 miles.

Every time you start an engine, water condenses inside the crankcase. If you drive/ride less than 5 miles, you are NOT getting the oil temperature up to normal, optimal operating temperature. If you don't get the oil temp, and the combustion chamber temps up to the optimal temperature, you don't burn the water out of your crankcase, and you don't burn the carbon deposits out of the combustion chamber. If you do this everyday, you will have what is known as "sludge" inside of your engine, although, I would think quite a few bikes will get wrecked before the sludge becomes a problem.

Try to take the long way to work if work is less than 5 miles from home, or get a beater car, and just ride once in a while.

Thanks for the VERY GOOD ADVICE... my next question is how would you know if the OIL gets up to TEMP? I mean I try to take the ride slow if the Temp gauge says LO and up to about 140-160.. and not 'WOT' until 160+

I'm guessing that I should ride longer during the winter when it's 30-60 degrees outside...and warm the bike up longer before taking off at all?

I did have plugged carbs on my 250 as well as fouled spark plugs etc and talked with the mechanic about why I had this problem in my first failed spring startup! Didn't have that problem again as I read the ninja 250 wiki guide. I read the service manual for my R1 at least 3 times, but it doesn't really mention a lot of things that I probably should know...not sure what a good source of info is besides helpful users on this forum!

__________________

I decided that living in fear of dying on a motorcycle isn't living, now at least if I die I had fun beforehand!

Unless you have a oil temp gauge, you won't know what the exact oil temp is, but if you go on a spirited ride for 30-40 minutes, it's a safe bet that the engine, including the oil temp, are up to optimal temperature.

__________________
Bogie is the man, and I should learn not to mess with him

I'm no expert, but wouldn't starting his bike up for 5 min or so before he took off help out? Maybe rev it up some every now and then? That's what I do when it hits anything under 60 here.

Well when it's 85-115 degrees out I just start it and let it run a minute to get oil up in the engine and take it slow until about 160 degrees on the bike. I tend to warm it up longer when it's 50 or lower, the manual says to not ride it hard when it says LO... so I take it real easy.... no 0-80mph in 4-5 seconds. I am still looking for a remote starter alarm system so I can warm it up more without having to stand around and wait for it. But yeah I don't think letting the bike warm up more hurts it but running the bike is better overall I think especially for charging the battery as well.

__________________

I decided that living in fear of dying on a motorcycle isn't living, now at least if I die I had fun beforehand!

I have the same symptoms on my 2010 as well. Summer 70+ first crank it starts. Fall/Winter 50 degrees or lower, it takes it time. If it starts normal in the summer but slow in the winter, is it still the starter magnet?